第 19 节
作者:
管他三七二十一 更新:2021-10-16 18:45 字数:9321
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pride。〃 One day some childish fever pain Burnt in my veins and fired my
brain。 Moaning; I turned from side to side; And; sobbing in my bed; I cried;
Till night in calm and darkness crept Around me; and at last I slept。 When
suddenly I woke to see The Lady bending over me。 The drops of cold
November rain Were falling from her long; damp hair; Her anxious eyes
were dim with pain; Yet she looked wondrous fair。 Arrayed for some great
feast she came; With stones that shone and burnt like flame; Wound round
her neck; like some bright snake; And set like stars within her hair; They
sparkled so; they seemed to make A glory everywhere。 I felt her tears upon
my face; Her kisses on my eyes; And a strange thought I could not trace I
felt within my heart arise; And; half in feverish pain; I said: 〃Oh if my
mother were not dead!〃 And Walter bade me sleep; but she Said; 〃Is it not
the same to thee That _I_ watch by thy bed?〃 I answered her; 〃I love you;
too; But it can never be the same; She was no Countess like to you; Nor
wore such sparkling stones of flame。〃 Oh the wild look of fear and dread!
The cry she gave of bitter woe! I often wonder what I said To make her
moan and shudder so。 Through the long night she tended me With such
sweet care and charity。 But should weary you to tell All that I know and
love so well: Yet one night more stands out alone With a sad sweetness all
its own。
The wind blew loud that dreary night: Its wailing voice I well
remember: The stars shone out so large and bright Upon the frosty fir…
boughs white; That dreary night of cold December。 I saw old Walter silent
stand; Watching the soft white flakes of snow With looks I could not
understand; Of strange perplexity and woe。 At last he turned and took my
hand; And said the Countess just had sent To bid us come; for she would
fain See me once more; before she went Awaynever to come again。 We
came in silence through the wood (Our footfall was the only sound) To
where the great white castle stood; With darkness shadowing it around。
Breathless; we trod with cautious care Up the great echoing marble stair;
Trembling; by Walter's hand I held; Scared by the splendours I beheld:
Now thinking; 〃Should the Earl appear!〃 Now looking up with giddy fear
To the dim vaulted roof; that spread Its gloomy arches overhead。 Long
corridors we softly past; (My heart was beating loud and fast) And reached
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the Lady's room at last: A strange faint odour seemed to weigh Upon the
dim and darkened air; One shaded lamp; with softened ray; Scarce showed
the gloomy splendour there。 The dull red brands were burning low; And
yet a fitful gleam of light; Would now and then; with sudden glow; Start
forth; then sink again in night。 I gazed around; yet half in fear; Till Walter
told me to draw near: And in the strange and flickering light; Towards the
Lady's bed I crept; All folded round with snowy white; She lay; (one
would have said she slept;) So still the look of that white face; It seemed
as it were carved in stone; I paused before I dared to place Within her cold
white hand my own。 But; with a smile of sweet surprise; She turned to me
her dreamy eyes; And slowly; as if life were pain; She drew me in her
arms to lie: She strove to speak; and strove in vain; Each breath was like a
long…drawn sigh。 The throbs that seemed to shake her breast; The
trembling clasp; so loose and weak; At last grew calmer; and at rest; And
then she strove once more to speak: 〃My God; I thank thee; that my pain
Of day by day and year by year; Has not been suffered all in vain; And I
may die while he is near。 I will not fear but that Thy grace Has swept away
my sin and woe; And sent this little angel face; In my last hour to tell me
so。〃 (And here her voice grew faint and low;) 〃My child; where'er thy life
may go; To know that thou art brave and true; Will pierce the highest
heavens through; And even there my soul shall be More joyful for this
thought of thee。〃 She folded her white hands; and stayed; All cold and
silently she lay: I knelt beside the bed; and prayed The prayer she used to
make me say。 I said it many times; and then She did not move; but seemed
to be In a deep sleep; nor stirred again。 No sound woke in the silent room;
Or broke the dim and solemn gloom; Save when the brands that burnt so
low; With noisy fitful gleam of light; Would spread around a sudden glow;
Then sink in silence and in night。 How long I stood I do not know: At last
poor Walter came; and said (So sadly) that we now must go; And
whispered; she we loved was dead。 He bade me kiss her face once more;
Then led me sobbing to the door。 I scarcely knew what dying meant; Yet a
strange grief; before unknown; Weighed on my spirit as we went And left
her lying all alone。
We went to the far North once more; To seek the well…remembered
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home; Where my poor kinsman dwelt before; Whence now he was too old
to roam; And there six happy years we past; Happy and peaceful till the
last; When poor old Walter died; and he Blessed me and said I now might
be A sailor on the deep blue sea。 And so I go; and yet in spite Of all the
joys I long to know; Though I look onward with delight; With something
of regret I go; And young or old; on land or sea; One guiding memory I
shall take … Of what She prayed that I might be; And what I will be for her
sake!
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VERSE: A CROWN OF
SORROW
A Sorrow; wet with early tears Yet bitter; had been long with me; I
wearied of this weight of years; And would be free。
I tore my Sorrow from my heart; I cast it far away in scorn; Right
joyful that we two could part … Yet most forlorn。
I sought; (to take my Sorrow's place;) Over the world for flower or
gem … But she had had an ancient grace Unknown to them。
I took once more with strange delight My slighted Sorrow; proudly
now; I wear it; set with stars of light; Upon my brow。
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VERSE: THE LESSON OF THE
WAR (1855)
The feast is spread through England For rich and poor to…day;
Greetings and laughter may be there; But thoughts are far away; Over the
stormy ocean; Over the dreary track; Where some are gone; whom
England Will never welcome back。
Breathless she waits; and listens For every eastern breeze That bears
upon its bloody wings News from beyond the seas。 The leafless branches
stirring Make many a watcher start; The distant tramp of steed may send A
throb from heart to heart。
The rulers of the nation; The poor ones at their gate; With the same
eager wonder The same great news await。 The poor man's stay and
comfort; The rich man's joy and pride; Upon the bleak Crimean shore Are
fighting side by side。
The bullet comesand either A desolate hearth may see; And God
alone to…night knows where The vacant place may be! The dread that stirs
the peasant Thrills nobles' hearts with fear … Yet above selfish sorrow Both
hold their country dear。
The rich man who reposes In his ancestral shade; The peasant at his
ploughshare; The worker at his trade; Each one his all his perilled; Each
has the same great stake; Each soul can but have patience; Each heart can
only break!
Hushed is all party clamour; One thought in every heart; One dread in
every household; Has bid such strife depart。 England has called her
children; Long silentthe word came That lit the smouldering ashes
Through